RECEPTION

      Joshua Gamson discusses audience reception and the ways in which media coverage represents them. He states that “the working assumption is that media institutions are in touch with and reflect audience interest” (Gamson 115). He is suggesting that the way the media covers a celebrity, or how much they cover them, reflects how audiences feel about or desire that specific celebrity. A large part of this audience includes fans, which are typically more invested in the celebrity than most people. Ultimately, when it comes to fans, Justin Timberlake has no shortage of them. He is constantly brought up in different media outlets, and it’s no secret that his fan base is huge. There are people all over the world obsessed with him, what he’s doing, who he’s doing it with, and why he’s doing it. This has led to many fan sites such as websites, Facebook pages, and YouTube videos. In an analysis of one of each of these, it is clear that Timberlake is well received by his fans and that he appreciates all of them.

            The first fan site that we analyzed is Timberlake’s fan webpage worldofjustin.com. This website has a variety of things such as his biography, photos, trailers, and tons of articles about him. The website is written in a very positive tone, and portrays him as a very relatable guy. In the biography section it starts by saying how he was just a regular guy from Tennessee who turned into a pop sensation. His ordinariness is also shown in one article on the main page with him and his Friends with Benefits costar Mila Kunis. In the article he talks about gay marriage and how he believes things should be equal. This shows how through all his fame, success, and package of skills, he still manages to be an ordinary guy addressing ordinary issues just like all of us.

            The second fan site we analyzed was a Facebook page promoting Timberlake. The page is not run by him, and the pictures appear to be professionally done, so rather than being ran by fans it’s more a site for fans. This is a chance for fans to share their thoughts and opinions and also to ask questions. The page had over eleven million “likes” and is filled with many “I love Justin!” comments. When looking through all of the comments, hardly anything negative could be found written about him. It seems that this is definitely more a site for those who love him than anything else, and based on the “likes” there are many of these people.

            The last fan site we analyzed was a YouTube video made by a fan at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. You can see Timberlake in the distance, and you can hear all of the fans yelling for him. He starts by joking around with them pointing at his watch and such, but eventually comes over to talk to them. He takes pictures with many of them, and when a bus of tourists drive by he makes a point of waving at them until the bus has completely passed. When he leaves, all of his fans are thanking him, and Timberlake even stops on his walk back for one last fan picture. This shows his loyalty to his fans and how much he appreciates them. Although he was busy, he came to speak and take pictures with them, then he waved to make sure those on the bus felt attention, and finally he stopped for that one last fan. It seems that he realizes how lucky he is to have his fans, and he loves them for having been there along his journey.

            When analyzing who Justin Timberlake is through his fan reception, an important question that may come to mind is who are these fans? Who are these people who hang on Timberlake’s every word, post up his pictures, share their experiences of him, and scream and yell with excitement as he comes by? It appears that Justin Timberlake has fans in every shape and form. While his main fan base of the early boy band years may have been tween girls, this is no longer the case. It seems that his fan base consists of males and females, adults and the younger crowd, people of all different religions and cultures, the high school nobody and the college cheerleader, and everyone in between.

            Through analysis of these different fan sources and who these fans are, it gives the impression that Justin Timberlake is well liked, has countless fans, and that he appreciates how important they are. Due to his tendency to come across so ordinary, his humor, his concern for issues we all deal with, and his talents which transmit in so many forms, it’s easy to see why he has the fans that he does. He also appears to realize that his fans are what make him such a successful person, and he takes time to appreciate that. It’s no wonder that his fans adore him.